--- title: Improving Academic Performance | Mark Skoskiewicz (9) description: "Mark Skoskiewicz holds a B.S. in Business Administration with a Major in Finance from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business, (he received additional minors in Philosophy and History). At IU, Mark was an undergraduate economics instructor teaching supplemental small group sessions for the department’s introductory economics course. During his junior and senior years, he was a private economics, finance, and accounting tutor. After Indiana, Mark spent 8 years working for Marakon Associates before creating MyGuru in 2009 while earning his MBA at Northwestern Kellogg to make it easier for parents and students to find high quality yet affordable tutors. While Mark wants MyGuru to always be known as a source for excellent tutors, we also aim to be a thought leader on how to improve academic performance through shifts in mindset, well-defined study plans, improved study habits, and even stress reduction strategies. Mark believes these ideas are a powerful, critical complement to working with an expert private tutor. Mark currently shares insights, advice, and information about how to improve academic performance in MyGuru’s improving academic performance blog and in an eBook Plan, Prepare, Perform: A Personalized Approach to Test Preparation. (9)" --- # Improving Academic PerfORMANCE Learn how to improve yourself through targeted learning and improved study skills. Browse by All News study skills academic performance improve study habits improving academic performance online tutoring growth mindset how to improve my grades improve academic performance improve your grades online educational resources tutoring 1-on-1 tutoring GMAT Blog deliberate practice study tips motivation preparing for the initial tutoring session study help ACT/SAT IQ New tutors brain science college student grit online tutors personalized education private tutoring time management Brain Rules LSAT MCAT Reading Comprehension Uncategorized college prep coronavirus high school improve test scores improving grades mindset private tutors study habits working with an online tutor College Admissions GRE Grit drives academic performance Hiring a tutor Improving Writing Study Planning deliberate practice at school distance learning hard work how to study efficiently increase your academic performance malleable brain math skills online tutor tips organization skills set clear objectives share details share materials strategic study plan study strategies studying ACT/SAT study skills College Applications GMAT GMAT prep John Medina LSAT Prep Managing Stress New Partnerships Paul Tough Strategy Development calculus tutoring college admissions interview college advice college entrance education system gre test prep improving cognition memory techniques neuroplasticity note-taking online classroom online statistics tutor productivity remote learning study the right way test prep strategies tutoring skills tutoring tips undergraduate student ACT ACT study help Boston tutors CPS selective enrollment California tutors Carol Dweck Cognitive Skills College majors Customer service ELA ESL tutoring GMAT reading comprehension GMAT testimonials Heidi Grant Halvorson How to Study for standardized exams Key Factors v. 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Competitive Position Micreconomics MyGuru News MyGuru leadership MyGuru locations NCLB NCLEX New York tutors Online Performance Character Power of Practice Revised GRE SAT study help SEL Study plans Success requires more than intelligence Summer tutoring program When to hire a private tutor Writing Sample admissions essays advanced placement anti-bullying ap classes ap physics ap physics tutoring ap test prep auditory learners beyond booksmart choosing a college major college degree college education college essay writing advice college essays college freshman college resume college tips compassion cost of college deep work demand curve effort equality essay writing exam preparation focus foreign language learning gamification gamification in classroom goal setting grad school online graduate school habits health and academic performance healthy living for students high school admissions high school resume homework tips how to do better on standardized tests how to study how to study better how to write an essay improve my writing intelligence interview preparation kinisthetic learners learning styles licensing exams linguistics tutoring math math help math tutor mental contrasting mindfulness motivating students nursing school nutrition online GRE tutoring online LSAT tutoring online gmat tutor online learning ownership mindset physical wellness physics tutoring podcast positive thinking private high school psychology of success reducing stress series 7 exam series 7 exam tutor should I study for the SATs social emotional learning standardized tests statistics tutor strategic planning stress reduction study guides and tips studying for standardized exams studying for the ACT studying for the SATs teaching strategies test taking confidence test taking strategies testimonials text anxiety tips for studying for the ACT tips for studying for the SATs to-do lists tutoring autistic students tutoring students with autism undergraduate degree visual learners writing an essay This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. ## Posts by Mark Skoskiewicz: ![How to Build the Right Skills Deliberately with Practice](https://www.myguruedge.com/hs-fs/file-2346970702-jpg/images/how_to_build_the_right_skills_deliberately_with_practice.jpg?width=260&height=145&name=how_to_build_the_right_skills_deliberately_with_practice.jpg)*“It’s not that I’m so smart.  I just stick with the questions longer.” - **Albert Einstein* [academic performance](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/myguru-blog/topic/academic-performance) [ownership mindset](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/myguru-blog/topic/ownership-mindset) ![growth oriented mindset](https://www.myguruedge.com/hs-fs/file-2301059608-jpg/images/growth-oriented-mindset.jpg?width=176&height=255&name=growth-oriented-mindset.jpg) Most people tend to have one of two mindsets: fixed or growth.  Those with a [growth mindset](https://offers.myguruedge.com/the-7-rules-of-academic-performance) believe they can always improve and change their personality or level of intelligence through feedback and hard work.  They believe, accurately, that the brain is a muscle that can be built up over time.  Those with a fixed mindset believe your personality and intelligence is more or less given to you at birth, and you can only tinker around the edges.  You want to adopt a growth mindset. ### Developing a Growth Mindset Why is the growth mindset important?  First, because the research suggests it’s true, and second, because adopting this mindset leaves to whole host of behaviors that have been shown to lead to [academic and other types of success](https://offers.myguruedge.com/the-7-rules-of-academic-performance), most notably “grit” and the willingness to stick with things when the going gets tough.  People with a fixed mindset tend to think their abilities, personalities, and intelligence is given at birth, and can’t be changed.  They may tend to avoid activities at which they fear they’ll fail, since this will expose a lack of ability which of course, can’t be changed. This creates a truly unfortunate cycle.  Because the student believes they simply, for example, aren’t good at math, but recognizes that it would be nice if they were good at math, they avoid situations in which their poor math ability will be exposed.  They make the choice to avoid raising their hand, for fear of looking dumb.  So, they don’t ask questions to clarify their understanding in class.  They may even avoid doing their homework, since it’s somehow easier mentally to do poorly because you didn’t study than to try your best and fail, thus confirming your belief that you may just not  smart.  Ultimately, and over time, a student with a fixed mindset starts to try far less hard, do much less homework, falling farther and farther behind, until the evidence seems to confirm that yes, other people “have it” and they don’t when it comes to math (or, insert any other common skill). People with a [growth mindset](https://offers.myguruedge.com/the-7-rules-of-academic-performance) believe that abilities and talents are built up over time through hard work, persistence, feedback, and ultimately learning.  They’ll ask a question in class in the honest pursuit of feedback and learning, without being too worried about sounding dumb.  They have no fear of being exposed as lacking math skills, because they believe they can and will just build up their math skills if they lack them today. ![Simple Academic Strategies Part Two](https://www.myguruedge.com/hs-fs/file-2301059293-jpg/images/simple_academic_strategies-_part_two.jpg?width=256&height=170&name=simple_academic_strategies-_part_two.jpg)In our last article, we talked about how thinking strategically is as important to students as it is to businesses. We described how, by thinking strategically about what classes to take, any given student can position him or herself well to graduate on time even if they switch majors, be more attractive to employers, and enjoy their academic experience, at the margin, more than they otherwise would. In this post, we’ll explore some simple, obvious, but powerful strategies for performing well in any given class. ![academic strategies](https://www.myguruedge.com/hs-fs/file-2301058698-jpg/images/academic-strategies.jpg?width=242&height=179&name=academic-strategies.jpg) Acting strategically is a key to success in education, business, and, really life in general. [improve study habits](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/myguru-blog/topic/improve-study-habits) [how to study efficiently](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/myguru-blog/topic/how-to-study-efficiently) [productivity](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/myguru-blog/topic/productivity) [stress reduction](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/myguru-blog/topic/stress-reduction) [to-do lists](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/myguru-blog/topic/to-do-lists) [organization skills](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/myguru-blog/topic/organization-skills) [time management](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/myguru-blog/topic/time-management) [![GTD book cover resized 600](https://www.myguruedge.com/hs-fs/file-2301058108-jpg/images/gtd_book_cover-resized-600.jpg?width=164&height=266&name=gtd_book_cover-resized-600.jpg)](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0142000280/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0142000280&linkCode=as2&tag=myg096d-20&linkId=MINXII5IW3WLTB43) In this article I want to discuss two key elements of achieving improved academic performance (or performance at work or in any given area of your personal life, for that matter), and how a simple but powerful system for managing your to-do list can address each element: [growth mindset](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/myguru-blog/topic/growth-mindset) [study habits](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/myguru-blog/topic/study-habits) [deliberate practice](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/myguru-blog/topic/deliberate-practice) [strategic study plan](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/myguru-blog/topic/strategic-study-plan) ![Learning about learning](https://www.myguruedge.com/hs-fs/file-549375611-jpg/images/shutterstock_89087125-resized-600.jpg?width=174&height=174&name=shutterstock_89087125-resized-600.jpg) MyGuru is slowly undergoing a bit of a transition. We certainly want to continue to be known as the premier source for extremely accomplished tutors who deliver highly customized 1-1 in-person and online tutoring and test prep in Chicago and a steadily growing number of cities. However,** if you want to improve your performance in school, expert feedback and customized instruction from a private tutor doesn’t necessarily need to be a part of your plan.** It is almost certainly a good idea, if you have the financial resources to pursue private tutoring. But, **there are other tools, approaches, and strategies you can use to do better in school**, and we want the MyGuru brand to be known for its ability to empower students to take control of their education, study more effectively, and develop strategies to meet their academic, professional, and personal goals. We want to deliver much more than the ability to connect with a private tutor. ### Follow this blog